Protect yourself from Mosquito Bites:
As of June 22, 2016 there have been 15 laboratory confirmed cases of Zika Virus Disease in Ohio associated with travel to endemic areas. There have been NO cases acquired in Ohio by mosquito transmission and ONE case which has been locally acquired by sexual transmission.
Zika virus disease (Zika) is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (A. aegypti and A albopictus). However, person to person transmission may occur through unprotected sexual contact as well. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito. It is not yet clear how long the disease might last beyond the symptomatic phase. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital. For this reason, many people might not realize they have been infected. It also makes it very difficult to identify infected individuals. Zika Virus Disease is rarely fatal.
The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). However, Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, as well as other severe fetal brain defects. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.
Specific areas where Zika is spreading are often difficult to determine and are likely to change over time as the changes in climate impact location and seasonality of the mosquito populations. If traveling, please visit the CDC Travelers’ Health site for the most updated travel information.
